The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-25
RAILROAD INDEMNITY HAUL.
Vigorous Policy Promulgated by the Sec
retary of the Interior.


retary of the Interior.
New YORK, May pa Washington
special to the Herald says: Your cores
pondent had a conversation yesterday af-
teInoon with Secretary Lamar in regard to
the question of land reform and Indian
reform. The letter to the President on the
revocation of certain indemnity withdraw
ais is only the first step toward general
revocation of ali indemnity Withdrawals
remaining in all parts of the country, as he
stared in his letter in these words: "Steps
will be taken in reference to the indemnity
lands of the other land-grant railroads, with
view to the restoration of these lands
to settlement (allowing a given and
reasonable time to make their selections)
as soon as the department is in possession of
such information as will enable ii to act
intelligently in making allowance to said
companies of indemnity claims in lieu of
those lost IN place." Secretary Lamar
said: 81 am fully convinced that all the
lands that have been Withdrawn from set
tlement at various times, to allow the land
grant corporations to select indemnity
lands, ought to be reopened without settle.
ment, and this is what shall do. Every
indemnity withdrawal will be revoked by
me without unnecessary delay. My first
order on the subject simply clears the
ground for the complete action on which l
have determined"
Have you any objections to this being
known?"
Not in the least. authorize you to
say it as from me. No concealment is
necessary. Under the laws granting these
lands, the corporations are, and have been,
entitled for years to select lands in the in
demnity limits to make good any losses in
their granted limits. But / hold that while
the corporations had and have this right,
1,o hoI fho
the same right to settle on those lands, un-
der the land laws, and IL is just and neces-
sary that this equal right of the people in
these lands should be asserted. Hence,
shall revoke every indemnity withdrawal
and open all indemnity lands to settlement
at once. Within the granted limits the
land-grant corporations have certain rights
to the exclusion OF the people. That is,
by act of Congress. Within the indemnity
limits the corporations have their rights
ofselection only in common with the peo-
ple.''
How do you get on with the execution
of the Indian severalty laws?'
1--WE are still busy with the prelimin-
aries, which are numerous, as there are
many reservations and the circumstances
on each are peculiar. That law Is one of
the most important and beneficent Con-
gress has ever passed. The true way to
Indian Bureau. ! mean, of course, to
pursue such policy as will result in that.
do not anticipate any serious obstacles.
"The numerous leases Of Indian lands by
cattlemen 1 shall sweep away. If they
were allowed to subsist the Indians who
have made leases of this kind, for which,
as you know, there is no authority of law,
would be induced to resist the law of Con-
gress commanding their settlement in sew
crafty. / shall, therefore, give proper
notice promptly that the cattle must be re-
moved and the leases annulled. If we have
been obliged to use troops to keep settlers
out of Irdian lands, or lands held by
agreement for Indian uses, then we may
surely use troops, if necessary, to drive of
and keep off cattle just as have found ii
necessary lately to employ troops to teaI
down fences around the public lands.
am not fond of the use of troops, but when
cattle are to go, and while hope the cat
| tle-Iease men viii obey in good faith,
shall not hesitate to compel prompt obedi.
ence. The law of Congress must be carried
out"